Raja urges PCB to stop pleading with Indian board

Ramiz Raja has called on the PCB to stop pleading with the Indians to tour and instead focus on generating revenue to help the sport survive.

Written by Press Trust of India

Read Time: 2 mins

Karachi:

Former skipper Ramiz Raja has called on the Pakistan Cricket Board to stop pleading with the Indians to tour the country and instead focus on generating revenue to help the sport survive.

Ramiz said he was not very hopeful of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side getting the clearance to tour Pakistan in the aftermath of Indian Sports Minister MS Gill's comments who said this was not a time to indulge in sporting activities with its neighbour after the Mumbai massacre.

"What I say is whatever happens the Pakistan board should stop pleading teams to tour. It is high time the board started revenue generating tournaments domestically to be self sufficient," he said.

The former captain also pointed out that there was no way India could keep on shunning Pakistan for long.

"Not only do both countries need to play against each other regularly but an Indo-Pak series is also very important for the sport's international profile."

Ramiz urged the PCB to woo corporates and start their own international league to keep things moving in the country. "I am sure there are companies who will come forward and channelise funds into an international league where international players can be invited.

"Where there is money you can do a lot. Pakistan needs to now have its own Pakistan Premier League to counter these threat of teams not undertaking confirmed tours."

Asked whether the Pakistan board should allow players' participation in the Indian Premier League if the bilateral series falls through, Ramiz pointed out the name of the game was money.

"First an alternate must be found for the players who will suffer financially by not going to the IPL or even the Indian Cricket League. That is why I am saying it is time we started our own little league," Ramiz said.

Another former captain, Rashid Latif, said rather than allowing players join IPL, the board should arrange contracts with English counties.

"Instead of allowing them to go to the IPL if India does not play against us, the board should support them in getting county contracts so that the players don't suffer financially," he said.

Latif pointed out that Pakistan players were in demand in England and could earn decent money playing there. "I agree with Ramiz, it is time we find ways to counter this issue of teams refusing to tour Pakistan," he said.